Trump revives plan for US warships to halt 50 yards off Cuban coast

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on social media on Friday, telling Cubans who desire political transformation that the moment to act has arrived. He specifically invited them to engage in a private partnership with the Central Intelligence Agency to drive that change. This public call for secret collaboration came hours after President Donald Trump announced a new naval tactic during a campaign rally in South Florida.

The timeline of this shift began earlier this year when Trump first suggested the possibility of warships visiting the island. He had been silent on the matter for several months before bringing it up again during a Friday event supporting candidates ahead of the midterm elections. The crowd, concerned about price increases for goods like gas and groceries resulting from the war in Iran, prompted the discussion.

Trump described a scenario where American vessels would pause their return journey from Iran. He stated that one ship would stop approximately 50 yards from the Cuban shoreline. He added that the crew would raise their hands, after which he would send Rubio to finalize an agreement.

Havana reacted to the comments with criticism on Friday. Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, the Cuban deputy foreign minister, wrote on X that the United States was effectively recruiting agents publicly. He mocked the situation, stating that the agency must be in a state of desperation to sell its services like a tube of toothpaste.

The two US officials have maintained an aggressive posture toward Havana for months. Trump previously indicated that Cuba would be the next target for intervention after the Iran war concludes. In May, the pair discussed the possibility of military action, a threat that gained weight after the administration filed criminal charges against former leader Raul Castro. Rubio argued that Cuba remains a national security threat due to its ties to US adversaries, though he expressed a preference for a peaceful resolution.

Rubio had not discussed the island in detail for several weeks prior to Friday. In a Fox News interview on September 29, he claimed that Cuba had already fallen economically. He described the country as lacking a functional economy and noted that the revolution had been dead for two decades. He did not mention a CIA operation during that broadcast.

Diplomatic efforts have been inconsistent. Senior US aides met with Cuban officials recently to explore better relations, but the US side was unimpressed by the outcome, leading to additional sanctions. In a UN General Assembly speech last month, Trump said Rubio was deep into negotiations and predicted a deal without military action. However, the two governments clashed earlier this week at the UN as Washington worked to build opposition to an annual vote condemning the US embargo.

Cuba has faced an economic and energy crisis since 2020. The country's GDP has contracted, affecting its 10 million residents who have endured blackouts, food shortages, and high inflation. Protests have occurred in waves, and hundreds of thousands of citizens have emigrated, with many moving to the United States.